as in to form
to take on a definite form
this group of summer interns is shaping up to be one of the best we've ever hired
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to improve
to change one's behavior or character for the better
told his son that if he didn't shape up, he'd be grounded for a month
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shape (up)
Paul Ridden
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2025
And, addressing another Laker issue, Redick needs to shape up with him.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
This year is shaping up to be particularly active for tornados, with more severe storms expected during May.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Early heat wave heralds another sizzling US summer While summer heat elbows its way into spring, the actual summer months are shaping up to be warmer than normal for the entire US.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Verb
Doogee Processing brains shape up as a MediaTek Dimensity 7050 5G chipset with an octa-core CPU and Mali graphics.
—Paul Ridden
may 12, New Atlas, 12 May 2025
And, addressing another Laker issue, Redick needs to shape up with him.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2025
This year is shaping up to be particularly active for tornados, with more severe storms expected during May.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
Early heat wave heralds another sizzling US summer While summer heat elbows its way into spring, the actual summer months are shaping up to be warmer than normal for the entire US.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for shape (up)
Cite this Entry
“Shape (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shape%20%28up%29. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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